argumentative essay on internet has done more harm than good

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Social Media Does More Harm Than Good Argumentative Essay

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Ramifications of the Internet Words: 1159
Impact of the Internet on Society Words: 1149
History of the Internet Words: 1168
Life Before the Internet Versus After the Internet Words: 659
Role of Internet in Internet Addiction Words: 1965
Benefits of Using the Internet in the Modern World Words: 932
Internet Impact on Modern Culture Words: 1379
Internet for Children: Benefits and Threats Words: 1126
The Negative Effect the Internet Has on Society Words: 1716
The Internet Origins and Commercial Use Words: 635
The Internet in Modern Human Life Words: 1102
The Internet Growth and Problems That It Faced Words: 1938

Internet Does More Good Than Harm

Since the invention of computers and the emergence of the internet, society has undergone an inconceivable transformation. The internet possesses two unique properties that no other innovation does: first, it serves as the most comprehensive source of knowledge in the world, and second, it offers individuals an interactive interface through which they can communicate quickly. It is regarded as one of the greatest inventive triumphs, according to the majority of people. Since its birth, its pervasive and life-altering impacts have been observed in a wide variety of areas. While it has facilitated communication, business, and research, it has also enabled the spread of vices such as pornography and hacking. Regardless of the negative implications associated with the internet, the internet has a greater positive impact than negative impact.

The Internet has considerably boosted global communication. People can quickly connect no matter where they live, by reason of messengers and social networks such as Facebook. The days when global communication took a few days or even a few months are long gone. Today, people communicate with each other face-to-face through the internet applications, such as Skype (Guide, 2019). This is a lot cheaper and easier than traditional ways of communicating. Communication between people and businesses is now quick and with a personal touch, although they live in faraway places.

Moreover, the Internet is a significant constituent of global free trade. When multinational firms wish to conduct business in other republics, they have to first contact partners in other nations before agreeing. Additionally, the internet allows businesses to save money by enabling workers to be easily employed from underdeveloped nations and work remotely from their home countries. For instance, many global firms construct call centers in low-cost nations such as India. Besides, the internet has created an unrivalled market in which goods and services are widely available, quickly advertised and dispersed within a short period of time through the corridors of purchasing and selling and trading things and services between customers, third parties, and enterprises. Many people can save a lot of time regardless of where they live because of the widespread availability of internet stores. Furthermore, they have more time for other important duties, for instance, supporting their children with academic matters.

Additionally, the internet has facilitated easy access to knowledge and information, allowing for easy research and distance learning via internet facilities. The internet has developed into a mode of communication. Whatever the question, the internet has made it simple for people to find answers. Lecturers now encourage students to conduct online research. One can complete the research from the comfort of their own homes, by reason of the internet. The virtual space opens up new avenues for research. As a result, it has simplified for people the research process through the use of search engines such as Google.

The internet has provided a platform for not only personal but also business transactions. It has introduced what is called online banking, where one does not need to physically go to the bank. For example, instead of queuing at the bank, one can easily access their bank statements using online banking services from anywhere (Guide, 2019). It enables users to avoid carrying cash and instead pay with their electronic cards, such as bank and credit cards. Shopping online has also simplified people’s life by allowing them to just type in the item they wish to purchase and the price; the transaction will be executed without the need to physically visit the store. Additionally, individuals can purchase bus or movie tickets, as well as make hotel arrangements.

On the contrary, critics believe that the internet spoils the youth by disseminating pornographic content and violence, both of which are considered widespread currently. While there is no uncertainty that pornographic sites and violent videos are rampant online, whether the young are spoiled by them is arguable. Because of the continual warnings about the risks of the Internet on various cyber education campaign programs, children are expected to understand both the advantages and risks of computer browsing. As a result, once individuals have gained more expertise, they are less likely to be targeted by cyber hackers (Guide, 2019). There is also a lot of information available online for their investigation. Instead of spending hours reading over hundreds of books in libraries, anyone can simply click a mouse to access essential papers.

The internet indeed comes with negative consequences; however, it is the most significant invention of the 20th century. It is a useful tool depending on how people use it, and when used appropriately, users can perform numerous tasks via the internet. Just like any other technological innovation, it has its own set of merits and demerits; though, its advantages far outweigh its disadvantages. The internet has made the world a global village and given people the chance to do unimaginable things that were considered impossible before. People have a chance to communicate, trade, and research, by reason of the internet invention. With the current upgrades to Internet security software and significant advances in its use, the Internet is a blessing rather than a scourge.

Guide, D. (2019). Internet. Google Developers.[cited 2018]. Web.

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Social Media Does More Harm Than Good Argumentative Essay

Social media has become a defining facet of modern life, shaping our interactions, perceptions, and decision-making processes. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram were initially designed to foster global connections, creating a virtual space for conversation, collaboration, and cultural exchange. However, the question arises: does social media do more harm than good? This essay will delve into the multiple layers of social media’s impact, presenting an argumentative discourse on how its pervasive influence may be causing more harm than we realize.

Table of Contents

The Dark Side of Social Media: An Argumentative Essay

Social media: a double-edged sword.

In the fast-paced digital age, social media has emerged as a prominent communication platform. While it has undoubtedly brought people closer, it has also sparked numerous debates regarding its influence on society. One such pressing issue is the argument that social media does more harm than good.

The Addictive Nature of Social Media

Social media, with its constant notifications, has an addictive pull that can consume a significant portion of our daily lives. This addiction often results in individuals spending less time on interpersonal relationships, thereby leading to a breakdown in communication. Face-to-face conversations are replaced by virtual interactions, which may not offer the same emotional depth and understanding.

The Detrimental Impact on Communication Skills and Livelihood

The pervasiveness of social media has led to drastic changes in communication styles. The use of abbreviations and emojis encourages a form of shorthand that can impede proper language use and comprehension. This could potentially affect the way we communicate in formal settings like workplaces, leading to misunderstandings and even job loss.

A Breeding Ground for Hate and Insecurities

Social media platforms are often used for spreading hate or offensive content. Cyberbullying is rampant, causing emotional turmoil among users, particularly teenagers. These platforms can exacerbate feelings of insecurity, as users often compare their lives with the seemingly perfect lives portrayed by others.

The Erosion of Self-Esteem and Authenticity

Social media encourages users to create a ‘perfect’ version of their lives, often leading to in authenticity. This constant pursuit of perfection can significantly decrease self-esteem, as users may feel inadequate when comparing their reality to the embellished lives of others.

The Threat to Privacy

Finally, privacy issues are a significant concern in the realm of social media. Personal information can easily be accessed and misused, leading to potential harm. Additionally, constant exposure to others’ lives can lead to emotional self-harm, such as feelings of inadequacy and jealousy.

In conclusion, while social media can be a powerful tool for connection and information sharing, we need to be aware of the potential harm it can cause. As individuals, we must strive to use these platforms responsibly, ensuring we do not allow them to consume our lives, erode our self-esteem, or infringe upon our privacy.

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Does Social Media Do More Harm Than Good for Society?

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Media has always had the power to influence our society, but it wasn't until the social media boom that we saw it on this scale and magnitude. While it has the potential for good, social media has been also been harmful to society because of how we use it.

Here's how social media is harming our mental health, self-image, communication skills, and society at large—potentially causing more harm than good overall.

Social Media Can Lead to Depression, Anxiety, and Loneliness

The uncontrollable urge to share everyday life with others on social media is starting to have long-term effects. Studies have shown that increased use of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok is leading to depression, anxiety, and loneliness.

The COVID-19 pandemic not only pushed more people to the platforms but also caused people to spend unusual amounts of time cruising their feeds. According to Statista , as of 2022, people spend an average of 147 minutes on social media daily. That's more than two hours.

More importantly, science has found that social media can make you sad . Social media platforms have become aware of how to manipulate your brain's reward response to increase engagement and time spent on apps. When you receive positive feedback on a post you made or a picture you uploaded, it releases endorphins. This is what keeps people on the platforms for hours. But it can also lead to increased feelings of anxiety, depression, and loneliness.

Casinos use the same types of tactics to get people to spend more time, and money, on their business. Giving out small wins to keep people coming back but never being able to fulfill their needs. If everyone had a full understanding of this concept, it could lead to healthier social media habits. Problem is, not very many people know how to create a healthy balance.

Communication on Social Media Has a Dark Side

While not everyone on the internet has a hard time communicating in real life, there is still a good portion of introverts who have an easier time talking online. Social media makes it easier for those people to connect with others and learn social cues that could have been missed. This can be especially helpful for people who live in smaller towns and have a deep desire to broaden their horizons.

Three girls communicating using social media

While you can't exactly remain anonymous on social media without creating a fake profile, you can create a whole new persona. This can help people who have a hard time socializing to break out of their shells.

Where social media has gotten into trouble is when these personas get pulled to the dark side. According to Help Guide , about 10 percent of teens report being bullied on social media, and even more claim they have been the recipient of offensive remarks. Being on the receiving end can lead to lower self-esteem and self-image.

It's also hard to express clear and concise communication when only using a keyboard. Language gets lost in translation without more communication clues to give context, like body language. What could have been intended as an innocent remark could be taken personally. This could lead to an argument that could have been avoided if it had been made in person.

Communication on social media still has some maturing to do before it becomes a force for good.

Social Media's Divisive Effect

At no other time in the history of the world has it been easier to connect with someone from around the world as it is today. Social media has had a large part in getting more people in contact with each other. These connections have fostered a whole world of communities that wouldn't have existed without the invention of the internet and social media. To be fair, social media has some positive effects on society .

But at the same time, the ease of finding like-minded people through social media has shown to be just as dangerous as it has been positive. Since its inception, the public has become increasingly aware of just what types of groups were forming in the dark corners of social media. Groups that would threaten the well-being of others were allowed to assemble online.

The 2016 election was controversial for the use of foreign interference through Facebook ads to swing the opinions of the public. The continued disparity between political opinions is a big reason why Americans feel social media is doing more harm than good these days.

The power of social media to influence entire nations has come under the microscope with recent events and other forms of media, like movies. Documentaries like The Social Dilemma have shown exactly what kind of manipulation social media is capable of.

Our dependence on social media is causing large consequences on how we live our lives. Although, the same could potentially be said about any form of media. The only difference is the scale that social media operates on and the instantaneous effect of that power. As a result, we face a dilemma of disinformation, social division spurred by bad-faith actors, and massive influence campaigns driven by social media.

Self-Image Suffers Due to Social Media

We have all gone through periods of comparing ourselves to others, whether it be in school or work. Social media has taken that concept to a whole other level by putting the haves and the have-nots front and center. What started as an honest way to connect with like-minded communities and friends has become a way to sell and buy happiness. Social media has, essentially, turned into a marketing platform.

Facebook, Instagram, and even LinkedIn have all drastically reduced the organic reach of posts with algorithmic timelines. This means fewer and fewer people get to see what you post unless you want to pay for advertising. Only a handful of people, known as influencers, have a massive audience.

And many of them have financial reasons for their posts. They sell products by filling their social feeds with good experiences and amazing places. This leads to a majority of people on the platform trying to make their lives seem just as good. That, in turn, can lead to severe loneliness and pressure from always comparing your life to others without knowing the context behind the pictures.

The Future of Social Media in Society

Social media, in and of itself, is not bad or harmful to society. What makes it harmful is how we use it and how we feel about ourselves while using it.

Right now, that pendulum is swinging in the wrong direction, but all it takes is enough people choosing to use it for the right reasons.

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How the internet can harm us, and what can we do about it?

The internet has received much negative news coverage in recent years.

Written by Gianluca Quaglio,

The internet has received much negative news coverage in recent years. Articles focus on major privacy scandals and security breaches, the proliferation of fake news, rampant harmful behaviours like cyber-bullying, cyber-theft, revenge porn, the exchange of child porn and internet predation, internet addiction, and the negative effects of the internet on social relations and social cohesion. Nevertheless, some 87 % of European households have internet access at home, and 65 % use mobile devices to access the internet. Europeans aged 16 to 24 years spend 168 minutes per day on mobile internet, dropping to 30 minutes for 55 to 64-year olds. Around 88 % of 15 to 24-year olds use social media, 80 % on a daily basis.

While the social and economic benefits of the internet cannot be denied, some of these developments can severely affect such European values as equality, respect for human rights and democracy. Technology companies are under increasing pressure to mitigate these harmful effects, and politicians and opinion leaders are advocating drastic measures.

The recently published STOA study on ‘Harmful internet use’ covers the damage associated with internet use on individuals’ health, wellbeing and functioning, and the impact on social structures and institutions. While the study does not attempt to cover all possible societal harm relating to the internet, Part I focuses on one specific cause of harm, internet addiction, and Part II covers a range of harmful effects on individuals and society that are associated with internet use. The report concludes with policy options for their prevention and mitigation.

Other studies have already extensively discussed some harmful effects, and these are already subject to a history of policy actions. These include harm to privacy, harm related to cybersecurity and cybercrime, and damage resulting from digital divides. In contrast, this study covers the less-studied but equally important harmful effects that concern individuals’ health, wellbeing and functioning, the quality of social structures and institutions, and equality and social inclusion.

Internet addiction and problematic internet use

Internet addiction and problematic internet use prevalence rates vary across studies and countries. The noteworthy discrepancy in prevalence estimates has a number of causes, including the different populations studied, as well as the various diagnostic tools and assessment criteria utilised. With this in mind, it appears that roughly 4 % of European adolescents demonstrate a pathological use of the internet that affects their life and health, while 13 % of adolescents engage in maladaptive behaviour when using the internet. Similar numbers are reported for adults.

Part I of the study focuses on generalised internet addiction, online gaming addiction, and online gambling addiction. Clinical presentations, patient profiling, comorbidities, instruments, interventions, and prognoses are different across these three potential addiction disorders. The study states that the individual, cultural and media-use context significantly contributes to the experience and severity of internet addiction.

The study proposes a set of preventive actions, and evidence to support future policies . It states that offering information, screening tools and campaigns to students in secondary schools and at universities regarding internet-use-related addiction problems can help, especially regarding gaming addiction in adolescent populations. This will require allocating research and resources for schools and their staff, and for families, as well as the establishment of working relationships with health professionals and services.

Harmful social and cultural effects associated with internet use

Part II of the study identifies a number of different harmful social and cultural effects associated with internet use. The evidence points to the occurrence of significant damage to both individuals and society. Some of these harmful effects are described briefly below:

Information overload: Having too much information to be able to adequately understand an issue or make effective decisions. Information overload is associated with loss of control, feelings of being overwhelmed, reduced intellectual performance, and diminished job satisfaction. Studies show that information overload affects up to 20-30% of people.

Damage to social relationships: Extensive internet use, of social media in particular, is correlated with loneliness and social isolation. Intimate relationships can be degraded by internet use, particularly due to viewing online pornography. Malicious online behaviour, particularly cyber-bullying, cyber-stalking and online predation, affects a significant percentage of internet users.

Impaired public/private boundaries: The way in which the internet and smartphones blur the distinction between private and public, and between different spheres of life, including work, home life and leisure, harms the boundaries between people’s public and private lives. Harmful effects that can result from such permeations include loss of quality of life, lack of privacy, decreased safety and security, and harm to social relations – when friends and family members feel they are left behind by new technology.

Harmful effects on cognitive development: Empirical evidence suggests that internet use can have both positive and negative impacts on cognitive development, depending on the person and the circumstances. There is evidence that children’s cognitive development can be damaged by prolonged internet use, including the development of memory skills, attention span, abilities for critical reasoning, language acquisition, reading, and learning abilities. More research is however needed to draw more reliable conclusions.

Damage to communities: Many off-line communities suffer through the partial migration of human activities – shopping, commerce, socialising, leisure activities, professional interactions – to the internet. Online communities sometimes extend off-line communities and sometimes replace them. They are often inadequate replacements, however, as they do not possess some of the valuable or the strongest qualities of off-line communities, and communities may consequently suffer from impoverished communication, incivility, and a lack of trust and commitment.

The study identifies a number of broad policy options for preventing and mitigating these harmful effects. They include, among other things:

promoting technology that better protects social institutions, stimulating or requiring tech companies to introduce products and services that better protect social institutions and internet users;
education about the internet and its consequences;
stronger social services support for internet users: this policy option involves strengthening social services dedicated to internet users to prevent or mitigate harmful effects such as internet addition, antisocial online behaviour or information overload;
incentivising or requiring employers to develop policies that protect workers against harmful effects of work-related internet use, such as information overload and the blurring of lines between public and private life;
establishing governmental units and multi-stakeholder platforms at EU level,to address the problems of the internet’s harmful social and cultural effects.

Problematic use of the internet (PUI) research network

Finally, in relation to internet-caused damage, it is worth mentioning the recent article published by the European Science-Media Hub (ESMH) on the European Problematic Use of Internet (PUI) research network. The project, funded by the European Commission, gathers over 120 psychologists, psychiatrists and neuroscientists, with the objective of reaching a better definition of diagnostic criteria, the role of genetics and personality traits, and the brain-based mechanisms behind internet related disorders.

Scientific Foresight (STOA)

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Internet is doing more harm than good, do you agree or disagree?

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Include an introduction and conclusion

A conclusion is essential for IELTS writing task 2. It is more important than most people realise. You will be penalised for missing a conclusion in your IELTS essay.

The easiest paragraph to write in an essay is the conclusion paragraph. This is because the paragraph mostly contains information that has already been presented in the essay – it is just the repetition of some information written in the introduction paragraph and supporting paragraphs.

The conclusion paragraph only has 3 sentences:

Restatement of thesis
Prediction or recommendation

To summarize, a robotic teacher does not have the necessary disciple to properly give instructions to students and actually works to retard the ability of a student to comprehend new lessons. Therefore, it is clear that the idea of running a classroom completely by a machine cannot be supported. After thorough analysis on this subject, it is predicted that the adverse effects of the debate over technology-driven teaching will always be greater than the positive effects, and because of this, classroom teachers will never be substituted for technology.

Start your conclusion with a linking phrase. Here are some examples:

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In many countries today, the number of plants and animals are declining. •Why is it happening? •What can be done to solve this situation?

In many large cities, people have to spend hours driving in heavy traffic every day. what are the effects of this on society and the individual what can be done about it give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience., entertainment such as playing electronic games on portable devices will be harmful to individuals in the society they live in. to what extent do you agree or disagree, at the present time, the population of some countries includes a relatively large number of young adults, compared with the number of older people. do the advantages of this situation outweigh the disadvantages, in some countries, young people have become richer, healthier, and live longer, but they are less happy. what are the causes what can be done to address this situation.

Is the internet good or bad for society? Americans are having a tough time deciding.

More and more people are mixed on the internet’s impact.

by Kurt Wagner

Actor James Franco holds up his hands and shrugs

More people are giving the internet mixed reviews, according to data from Pew Research , which found an increase in the percentage of people who think the internet has had both positive and negative impacts on society.

The percentage of people who think the internet is good for society is shrinking. Roughly 70 percent of American adults who use the internet believe it’s mostly good for society, down from 76 percent in 2014, Pew found.

A chart showing how many people think the internet has had a positive impact on society.

That doesn’t mean those people now believe the internet is necessarily bad — it’s just more complex. The portion of people who believe the internet is a “mix of good and bad” for society nearly doubled in that same time, from 8 percent to 14 percent of those interviewed. But the percentage of people who think the internet is bad for society remained virtually unchanged.

Pew found that the change was most prevalent among older Americans. About 64 percent of online adults over 65 say the internet has been “a mostly good thing for society,” Pew wrote. In 2014, that number was 78 percent.

The fact that more people can’t figure out if the internet is good or bad isn’t really a shock. The internet is great for many things, like helping people stay in touch, spreading vital information and easing the burden of everyday tasks, like shopping or paying the bills.

It’s also terrible for a lot of reasons, many of which we’ve seen play out in the past couple of years thanks to the proliferation of fake news on Facebook and YouTube and the influence of filter bubbles on public discourse. That’s probably why a former Facebook pollster recently found that 32 percent of Americans believe that Facebook has a “negative impact on society.” (Pew says its research was conducted in January, so before Facebook’s recent data privacy scandal.)

Many people, including those of us at Recode , have been trying to figure out how these tech behemoths are viewed by the general public. In a recent survey we conducted along with SurveyMonkey , just 10 percent of respondents said that Facebook has had the “most positive impact on society” of all the tech companies.

The winner: Amazon, with 20 percent of respondents saying it has had the “most positive impact on society.”

This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

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For Some of Us, The Internet Could Be Doing More Harm Than Good, Report Finds

The Internet has changed our lives for the better in so many ways: we can talk to our grandparents on the other side of the world in an instant, we can access the combined knowledge of the world in one place , and listen to 30 million songs with the touch of a button… but there are downsides, as a new report from the World Bank has found.

The 'digital dividends' that we've mentioned above, including economic growth and increased access to education, are unevenly distributed . For those who can't access the Web, social inequalities could be exacerbated, widening the divisions between the haves and the have-nots. If some countries gain access to technologies such as artificial intelligence way before others, the report posits , then it could be hugely damaging for those left behind.

"To deliver universal digital access, we must invest in infrastructure and pursue reforms that bring greater competition to telecommunications markets, promote public-private partnerships, and yield effective regulation," writes Jim Yong Kim , the president of the World Bank Group. "The full benefits of the information and communications transformation will not be realised unless countries continue to improve their business climate, invest in people's education and health, and promote good governance."

Around 60 percent of the planet remains offline, according to the report , although efforts such as Google's Loon Project and Facebook's Internet.org initiative are looking to reduce that number. Even in the richest and most developed nations, only 3-5 percent of the population is employed in the technology industry - another imbalance which needs to be addressed to ensure the benefits of a connected Web trickle down to everyone rather than the privileged few.

As The New York Times reports , the World Bank is calling for governments and Silicon Valley companies to consider a competitive marketplace, worker skills, new job creation, and accountability for agencies alongside the spread of Internet access - getting the world online will not be enough on its own to ensure the Internet's benefits reach all 7 billion of us on the planet.

"The digital revolution is transforming the world, aiding information flows, and facilitating the rise of developing nations that are able to take advantage of these new opportunities," said World Bank chief economist, Kaushik Basu . "While these achievements are to be celebrated, this is also occasion to be mindful that we do not create a new underclass. With nearly 20 percent of the world's population unable to read and write, the spread of digital technologies alone is unlikely to spell the end of the global knowledge divide."

The report did point to many positive impacts of the digital revolution, however, including digital ID systems for those without paperwork, a huge drop in the cost of sending money in countries such as Kenya, accessibility technologies for those with disabilities, and increased numbers of entrepreneurs. The next challenge is to make sure the benefits are evenly distributed.

Argumentative Essay Writing

Argumentative Essay About Social Media

Crafting a Winning Argumentative Essay on Social Media

Published on: Feb 27, 2023

Last updated on: Jul 23, 2024

Argumentative Essay- Explained

Before writing an argumentative essay about social media, it's important to understand what makes up a good argumentative essay.

An argumentative essay is an article that presents both sides of an issue or debate in order to reach a conclusion.

It requires you to provide evidence and facts, present a point of view, and develop an argument.

When writing an argumentative essay on social media, you must present both sides of the issue or debate in a balanced manner.

You must also be sure to explain why one side has more credibility than the other.

This means that youâll need to do your research and make sure that your essay has facts and evidence to back up your claims.

Why Do We Write an Argumentative Essay About Social Media?

This type of essay can be difficult because it requires you to present both sides of the argument in a balanced and unbiased manner.

It also requires you to research facts that support either side of the argument and present them in a clear and logical manner.

By writing this essay, you can help readers understand why one point of view is more credible than another.

This can help them form their own opinions on the issue and become better informed on the topic.

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Steps to Write an Argumentative Essay About Social Media

Writing an argumentative essay about social media requires research, facts, and evidence.

Here are a few steps that can help you write a great argumentative essay:

Research To Collect Data and Material

The first step in writing an argumentative essay about social media is to do research and collect data.

This includes researching various sources such as books, articles, and websites that provide reliable information about the topic.

Take notes on what you read and highlight any points or quotes that you may want to include in your essay.

Pick an Engaging Title for an Argumentative Essay About Social Media

When it comes to writing a great argumentative essay about social media, one of the most important elements is having a great title.

A good title will draw readers in and encourage them to read your essay.

Make sure the title is catchy yet relevant to the main topic of your paper.

Form a Descriptive Outline

Once you have collected enough data and material, itâs time to start forming a descriptive outline of your essay.

This should include all the points you plan on discussing throughout the body paragraphs. Furthermore, it should include any conclusions that you may want to propose at the end of your paper.

By having a clear idea of what your paper will cover, it will be much easier to plan out each section before writing it out in full detail.

Check out this amazing blog on argumentative essay outline to craft perfect outlines.

Write an Introduction of an Argumentative Essay About Social Media

Your introduction should be engaging and introduce readers to the main topic of your paper.

Here, you can also state which side of the argument you are taking (if applicable) so readers know where you stand from the beginning.

Write Connect The Body Paragraphs Of Your Essay

In each body paragraph, provide evidence or facts that prove why your opinion is correct.

Each paragraph should introduce a new point or idea related back to your main argument.

Make sure each point flows naturally into one another, without jumping around too much from one point/idea to another.

Write A Compelling Conclusion

Finally, write a compelling conclusion that wraps up all points made throughout the body paragraphs.

Make sure not only summarize what was already said. Also, provide insight into why these topics are still relevant today and how they affect us today going forward!

Examples of Argumentative Essay About Social Media

When writing an argumentative essay about social media, it can be helpful to look at examples.

Here is a sample argumentative essay written by our expert writers. Check it out for more inspiration.

By reading these sample essays, you can gain a better understanding of how to write your own essay and what elements are important to include.

Argumentative Essay About Social Media Pdf

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Check our extensive blog on argumentative essay examples to ace your next essay!

Argumentative Essay About Social Media Topics

If youâre looking for topics to write about in your argumentative essay about social media, take a look at the list below for some ideas:

The Impact of Social Media on Human Interaction
How Can We Limit Social Media Use?
Is Social Media Harmful/Beneficial to Mental Health?
Social Media and Its Effect on the Education System
Is Social Media Really a Positive Influence on Young People?
The Impact of Social Media on Privacy
How Has Social Media Changed Society in Recent Years?
Should We Censor Content Posted on Social Media Platforms like Twitter and Facebook?
Does Social Media Make Us Feel More Alone?
Are Social Media Users Becoming Increasingly Narcissistic?
Should We Rely on Social Media for News Sources?
Is Social Media a Tool of Surveillance?

Check our comprehensive blog on argumentative essay topics to get more topic ideas!

The platform that you use to communicate with others can be a great tool or it can do more harm than good. It all depends on how you use it and what your intentions are.

You can find social media argumentative essay examples all over the internet, but not every one of them is going to be a winner.

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Social Media: Beneficial or Harmful? Essay

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It is important to note that social media is a core element of the internet, and it reshaped how a modern human perceives information, communicates, socializes, and learns about the outside world. It became a primary lens through which one interacts with others, and thus, it is critical to properly evaluate whether or not such a state of affairs is beneficial or harmful to human wellbeing. The given assessment argues that social media, not the internet, is harmful to society and humanity in general because it reshapes the social fabric, causes loss of reason, logic, attentiveness, and memory, violates individual rights of all people as well as proliferates misinformation, which means that social media’s harms heavily outweigh its benefits.

Firstly, in order to fairly and properly assess the benefits or harms of social media, the latter should be distinguished from the internet. For example, it is stated that “the notion that the Internet is bad for you seems premised on the idea that the Internet is one thing—a monolith” (Goldsmith 597). In other words, the internet is not one thing but rather a collection of vastly different forms of communication, presentation, information exchange, entertainment, interactions, and other functions. Therefore, the internet is a source of many positive aspects of modernity because it not only brings more informational democracy but also prevents restriction and control of the free exchange of knowledge. However, the question is not about the internet as a whole but rather social media. Unlike the internet, which brings a number of benefits, which far outweigh the harms, social media does not bring a similar imbalance in favor of good. Social media was designed to simplify socialization and communication online, but the outcome is unchecked control of the flow of conversation in favor of a specific agenda, profit, and violation of individual rights.

Secondly, not all internet elements utilize artificial intelligence as extensively as social media platforms. The use of AI allows such companies to fine-tune one typology of information consumed, which means that it is social media that makes decisions for its users. While the internet is a library of knowledge, where a person makes a clear choice on what to read, watch, listen to, or interact with, social media uses AI and complex algorithms to influence its user. The underlying business model of all social media platforms is to learn about its user as much as possible and profit from them in a targeted manner. Such a design is not an inherent feature of the internet, which is not constrained to be profitable in this manner since many websites operate through subscriptions, direct sales, or other means. When it comes to such dangers, AI itself can also be a problem. It is stated that “there are indeed concerns about the near-term future of AI —algorithmic traders crashing the economy, or sensitive power grids overreacting to fluctuations and shutting down electricity for large swaths of the population” (Littman 314). In other words, social media’s extensive use of AI in combination with its problematic business model creates a host of issues that are not attributable to the internet.

Thirdly, in addition to social media-specific problems, they are also linked to harms associated with both devices and the internet in general. As stated before, the internet has its harms and benefits, but the latter usually outweighs the former. Similarly, devices come with harms as well as benefits, where the balance is tilted towards the positive aspects. However, not only social media has its inherent design flaws, but it also has problems with devices and the internet in general, which makes their harms far more abundant than benefits. For example, it is stated that “while our phones offer convenience and diversion, they also breed anxiety” (Carr 582). In addition, “as the brain grows dependent on the technology, the research suggests, the intellect weakens,” and “the division of attention impedes reasoning and performance” (Carr 583). Therefore, these device-related problems are multiplied a hundredfold by the fact that social media amplifies distraction and attention division through notifications. Social media is not a highly intellect-strengthening medium either, which further complicates the dependence factor.

Fourthly, social media companies are not properly regulated, and the nature of the business heavily favors oligopoly rather than a proper competitive environment because people want to have a unified platform for communication and audience-building. Therefore, the industry generates highly powerful companies with unchecked capabilities, where the national and even international discourse takes place exclusively on such mediums. For example, one cannot deny the influence of Twitter or Facebook as drivers of political or social discourse. Therefore, there is a conflict of interest among such big tech companies in regards to providing an open and fair platform versus making a profit, and the decision is clearly made in favor of the latter. The very structure of the business model of social media is to influence users to buy the advertisers’ products or services, and thus, it cannot be a just and fair place for discussion on important subjects by definition. Such a state of affairs threatens the fabric of society whether or not these companies intend to do so.

Fifthly, the conflict of interest described in the previous section brings its biggest harm when it comes to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, where private enterprises are not obliged to protect the freedom of speech and expression. Since the national and international discourse and communication are taking the place of social media, where the First Amendment is mandatory to have, these platforms are unable, unwilling, and not obliged to provide it. One can easily observe how such companies can become politically tilted towards one agenda over the other, where accounts of even the most influential individuals can be banned because they violated the terms of service of the company. In other words, a company’s rules override the Constitutional rules. It is important to note that only a better speech can be an answer to a bad speech and not a removal of that voice.

Sixthly, social media platforms are heavily engaged in data collection and privacy violations, which was demonstrated by well-known scandals and criticisms. Once again, the business model of social media companies is structured in such a manner that their primary customers are not users but advertisers. A former group is a form of product or service being sold to advertisers, which means that social media advances surveillance capitalism at its core. In a century where the right to privacy is constantly becoming a problem due to governmental antiterrorism interests, social media further threatens these fundamental rights. The problem is even more dangerous when one considers the ever-increasing cyber threat proliferation, which means a breach of security in a social media company endangers all of its users.

Seventhly, social media does not have a well-structured method of combatting misinformation since its primary incentive is to promote engagement and grab attention. Social media companies are conflicted between ensuring the accuracy of the information on their platform and boosting the interactivity with their users. Such companies want to have interesting pieces of information, which are better provided by misinformation since the truth is always more complex and intricate. Therefore, one can see how social media can become a breeding ground for people with agenda of public deception. In addition, these platforms would not have the capability to ensure the accuracy of information even if they were incentivized somehow. Public panic and political polarization are other phenomena that accompany social networks, and the catalyst for these occurrences is information received both directly by the subject and disseminated using modern social communication technologies.

In conclusion, social media is not the internet, and its harms are far more extensive than the latter because it affects memory, attention, and reason and violates individual rights for privacy, free expression, and fairness in discourse, as well as proliferates misinformation. In addition, social media inherits inherent problems associated with modern devices and the internet in general, which further compounds its harm. Therefore, the effects of social media hurt the social fabric by pretending that it serves its users while its actual customers are advertisers. It also pretends to provide an open and free platform for communication while its very business model implies targeted influence on the user’s preferences. The use of AI also adds to all of the concerns related to artificial intelligence safety.

Works Cited

Carr, Nicholas. “How Smartphones Hijack Our Minds.” They Say/I Say , edited by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein, W.W. Norton & Norton Company, 2021, pp. 582-596.

Goldsmith, Kenneth. “Go Ahead: Waste Time on the Internet.” They Say/I Say , edited by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein, W.W. Norton & Norton Company, 2021, pp. 597-602.

Littman, Michael. “Rise of the Machines” Is Not a Likely Future.” They Say/I Say , edited by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein, W.W. Norton & Norton Company, 2021, pp. 311-314.

The Concept of Internet Etiquette (Netiquette)
Multicast Routing and Its Protocols
Inoculation Theory, Misinformation, and Fake News
Innovation in Textiles: New Fabric
Navigating AI in Security: Safeguarding Privacy and Society
Online Identity-Creating New Personas and Relations
IT Network Connectivity
Interconnection of College Campus Lans to Wan
Extensible HyperText Markup Language
Influence of YouTube and Facebook on Business
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More From Forbes

It's not all bad: the social good of social media.

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Social media is not always an online distraction or procrastination platform. While some may be addicted to their social media networks, it is one of the best ways to stay informed. Major news outlets, corporations and persons of interest use social media to deliver messages to the masses. With items posting immediately, the public stays informed. Some issues cause controversy, but social media does more good than harm in retrospect.

News Alert Distribution

With so much of the global community being nearly constantly connected to social media, delivering news alerts on social media channels reaches more people faster. News outlets can share breaking stories, alerts and other important bits of news instantly with their followers. When more people are aware of a situation, those working to secure locations and ensure the safety of the general public can perform their job duties more efficiently.

Traffic Message Delivery

Drivers around the world use their smartphones while driving. It is distracting. Safety authorities around the world are using social media to deliver lifesaving messages, videos and stories to help drivers keep their eyes on the road. Checking social media while driving is a hazard, and should be avoided.

Some road safety authorities have posted a call for independent, amateur videographers and filmmakers to create content for drivers , to rethink their driving habits. As more attention is drawn to the importance of ignoring mobile devices while driving, fewer severe crashes will take place. For some, it takes losing a friend or loved one to a distracted driver to realize the importance of this issue.

Social media is a valuable tool for sending safety messages and showing photos from severe crashes resulting from distractions. The posts make a large impact on driver attitudes and practices.

Increased Teen Awareness

Although some parents see social media as detrimental to their children, it actually does them some good to have social media accounts. Teens want to be aware and informed just as much as adults. Using social media allows teens to follow organizations and causes that they believe in. It makes them feel like they are a part of something, even when they feel like an outcast in society.

Increased teen awareness is important. Social media is one of the best outlets to reach the minds of young people to make a real difference.

Increased Marketing Exposure

Billions of people worldwide use social media networks. In terms of marketing, it is the most cost effective way to reach mass amounts of consumers. Consumers that support a cause, product or service are more likely to share posts from major corporations and non-profit organizations. Charitable organizations tug at the heart strings of the general population.

One of the benefits of marketing through social media , especially where charities are concerned, is that consumers and supporters worldwide can contribute. Making a contribution online can be done from anywhere in the world. Gaining global attention for a cause or major product release creates a buzz and draws attention to the original poster, in a positive manner.

Helps Understand Technological Needs

There are an estimated 4.4 billion people worldwide that do not have Internet access, according to statistics. Noting what areas of the world lack access helps developers understand the basic needs of a specific demographic group faster. This may mean that companies could step forward and bring technology to these underdeveloped areas for a more cohesive global connection in the future. Such efforts have been discussed at conferences for social good through technology .

An example of how technology works to improve social good is connecting families via VoIP conversations from locations around the world following a major natural disaster or tragedy. Loved ones living in different countries spend an extended amount of time worrying about the status of their friends and families due to lines of communication being down. Signals created for Wi-Fi during these times would allow those connections to take place. It would also allow global leaders to reach out to other countries for assistance.

Global Natural Disaster Relief Support

When natural disaster strikes and causes devastating destruction, social media is the ideal vehicle to deliver messages asking for support. Hashtags are created to help Internet users locate related stories and show their support for those affected by the disaster. This helps stories that begin locally to gain national or global attention. That being said, more entities can step-up to assist localities requiring assistance and raise funds to help those affected.

Social media itself is controversial. It is not all arguments, drama and controversy. Social media does have plenty of uses for good purposes. When news needs attention and causes need supporters, using social media outlets is the best way to reach a mass amount of readers as not all stories make it to local news channels for distribution.

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How to write an argumentative essay | Examples & tips

How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Examples & Tips

Published on July 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An argumentative essay expresses an extended argument for a particular thesis statement . The author takes a clearly defined stance on their subject and builds up an evidence-based case for it.

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When do you write an argumentative essay, approaches to argumentative essays, introducing your argument, the body: developing your argument, concluding your argument, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about argumentative essays.

You might be assigned an argumentative essay as a writing exercise in high school or in a composition class. The prompt will often ask you to argue for one of two positions, and may include terms like “argue” or “argument.” It will frequently take the form of a question.

The prompt may also be more open-ended in terms of the possible arguments you could make.

Argumentative writing at college level

At university, the vast majority of essays or papers you write will involve some form of argumentation. For example, both rhetorical analysis and literary analysis essays involve making arguments about texts.

In this context, you won’t necessarily be told to write an argumentative essay—but making an evidence-based argument is an essential goal of most academic writing, and this should be your default approach unless you’re told otherwise.

Examples of argumentative essay prompts

At a university level, all the prompts below imply an argumentative essay as the appropriate response.

Your research should lead you to develop a specific position on the topic. The essay then argues for that position and aims to convince the reader by presenting your evidence, evaluation and analysis.

Don’t just list all the effects you can think of.
Do develop a focused argument about the overall effect and why it matters, backed up by evidence from sources.
Don’t just provide a selection of data on the measures’ effectiveness.
Do build up your own argument about which kinds of measures have been most or least effective, and why.
Don’t just analyze a random selection of doppelgänger characters.
Do form an argument about specific texts, comparing and contrasting how they express their thematic concerns through doppelgänger characters.

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An argumentative essay should be objective in its approach; your arguments should rely on logic and evidence, not on exaggeration or appeals to emotion.

There are many possible approaches to argumentative essays, but there are two common models that can help you start outlining your arguments: The Toulmin model and the Rogerian model.

Toulmin arguments

The Toulmin model consists of four steps, which may be repeated as many times as necessary for the argument:

Make a claim
Provide the grounds (evidence) for the claim
Explain the warrant (how the grounds support the claim)
Discuss possible rebuttals to the claim, identifying the limits of the argument and showing that you have considered alternative perspectives

The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays. You don’t have to use these specific terms (grounds, warrants, rebuttals), but establishing a clear connection between your claims and the evidence supporting them is crucial in an argumentative essay.

Say you’re making an argument about the effectiveness of workplace anti-discrimination measures. You might:

Claim that unconscious bias training does not have the desired results, and resources would be better spent on other approaches
Cite data to support your claim
Explain how the data indicates that the method is ineffective
Anticipate objections to your claim based on other data, indicating whether these objections are valid, and if not, why not.

Rogerian arguments

The Rogerian model also consists of four steps you might repeat throughout your essay:

Discuss what the opposing position gets right and why people might hold this position
Highlight the problems with this position
Present your own position , showing how it addresses these problems
Suggest a possible compromise —what elements of your position would proponents of the opposing position benefit from adopting?

This model builds up a clear picture of both sides of an argument and seeks a compromise. It is particularly useful when people tend to disagree strongly on the issue discussed, allowing you to approach opposing arguments in good faith.

Say you want to argue that the internet has had a positive impact on education. You might:

Acknowledge that students rely too much on websites like Wikipedia
Argue that teachers view Wikipedia as more unreliable than it really is
Suggest that Wikipedia’s system of citations can actually teach students about referencing
Suggest critical engagement with Wikipedia as a possible assignment for teachers who are skeptical of its usefulness.

You don’t necessarily have to pick one of these models—you may even use elements of both in different parts of your essay—but it’s worth considering them if you struggle to structure your arguments.

Regardless of which approach you take, your essay should always be structured using an introduction , a body , and a conclusion .

Like other academic essays, an argumentative essay begins with an introduction . The introduction serves to capture the reader’s interest, provide background information, present your thesis statement , and (in longer essays) to summarize the structure of the body.

Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a typical introduction works.

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.

The body of an argumentative essay is where you develop your arguments in detail. Here you’ll present evidence, analysis, and reasoning to convince the reader that your thesis statement is true.

In the standard five-paragraph format for short essays, the body takes up three of your five paragraphs. In longer essays, it will be more paragraphs, and might be divided into sections with headings.

Each paragraph covers its own topic, introduced with a topic sentence . Each of these topics must contribute to your overall argument; don’t include irrelevant information.

This example paragraph takes a Rogerian approach: It first acknowledges the merits of the opposing position and then highlights problems with that position.

Hover over different parts of the example to see how a body paragraph is constructed.

A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

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An argumentative essay ends with a conclusion that summarizes and reflects on the arguments made in the body.

No new arguments or evidence appear here, but in longer essays you may discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your argument and suggest topics for future research. In all conclusions, you should stress the relevance and importance of your argument.

Hover over the following example to see the typical elements of a conclusion.

The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education; occasional pitfalls aside, its value is evident in numerous applications. The future of teaching lies in the possibilities the internet opens up for communication, research, and interactivity. As the popularity of distance learning shows, students value the flexibility and accessibility offered by digital education, and educators should fully embrace these advantages. The internet’s dangers, real and imaginary, have been documented exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for good.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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Appeal to authority fallacy
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An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

The majority of the essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Unless otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of any essay you’re asked to write is argumentative: To convince the reader of your position using evidence and reasoning.

In composition classes you might be given assignments that specifically test your ability to write an argumentative essay. Look out for prompts including instructions like “argue,” “assess,” or “discuss” to see if this is the goal.

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Home / Essay Samples / Entertainment / Social Media / Social Media: Does More Harm Than Good

Social Media: Does More Harm Than Good

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Topic: Effects of Social Media , Social Media

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The Dark Side of Social Media

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Social Media Does More Harm Than Good Argumentative Essay

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